The company manages leisure centres in Gravesham and Dartford

A Gravesham leisure company has seen off strong competition to scoop a prestigious national award for its apprenticeship scheme.

Gravesham Community Leisure Limited (GCLL), which manages two leisure centres in Gravesham and one in Dartford, has won the YMCA Employer of the Year award in the category of small to medium business.

A report carried out by the YMCA, World of Good 2016, highlighted that education and employment are the top two concerns of young people, and GCLL’s apprenticeship scheme addresses these concerns, enabling apprentices to earn while they learn.

GCLL developed the scheme in tandem with YMCA, with the first apprentice enrolling on the course in 2013.

It proved to be such a success that GCLL continued to offer the apprenticeship scheme to its employees, and 35 staff members have so far been enrolled on the funded course.

The company saw off competition from firms in a range of other sectors, including business, retail, childcare, horticulture, health and social care, fitness and leisure and motor vehicles.

The award was presented to managing director Rob Swain and Head of HR Helen Lake at the House of Commons at a ceremony attended by the Government’s apprenticeship ‘champion’, Nadhim Zahawi, shadow BIS secretary Angela Eagle and secretary of state for education Nicky Morgan, along with other business leaders, learners and supporters from across the UK.

Mr Swain said – “We are thrilled to win such a fantastic, national award but our ethos as a company is to provide a platform for staff members to break out further into the industry using the skills and qualifications gained whilst employed at GCLL.and to help provide the next generation of leisure industry professionals”.

Ms Lake added: “GCLL are committed to recruiting new apprenticeship recruits and to provide options for school leavers or people who value an apprenticeship over college or university.”